The Trial [9]

Summary

Monster: BTK – Episode: The Trial [9] Summary

Release Date: February 10, 2025
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and Tenderfoot TV
Duration: Approximately 43 minutes

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Introduction to Dennis Rader's Arrest and Media Frenzy

[02:15] Larry Hatteberg:
The episode opens with Larry Hatteberg recounting the moment Dennis Rader, infamously known as BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill), was apprehended in Park City, Kansas, in 2005. The arrest sent shockwaves through Wichita and garnered national media attention. Rader's sudden appearance as a convicted serial killer dominated media coverage, overshadowing other significant stories.

Key Quote:
"And all of the stories that I like to cover on wonderful people doing wonderful things, that was all put by the wayside. And now it was BTK all the time, every day."
— Larry Hatteberg [02:15]

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Rader's Reluctance and Initial Phone Interview

While incarcerated, Rader avoided public interactions. However, Hatteberg took the initiative to contact him, leading to a rare phone interview where Rader exhibited chilling detachment.

Key Quote:
"How could you kill two children?"
— Larry Hatteberg [04:14]

Rader's response was unnervingly casual:
"Oh, well, they were just collateral."
— Dennis Rader [04:14]

This exchange highlighted Rader's lack of remorse and his methodical approach to his crimes.

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Pre-Trial Proceedings and Legal Strategies

Rader faced 10 counts of first-degree murder, with his final murder occurring in 1991. Kansas had reinstated the death penalty in 1994, but since Rader's crimes were committed before its reinstatement, prosecutors sought life without parole.

Key Discussion Points:

• Prosecutors' Approach:
  Nola Foulston and Kevin O'Connor emphasized the impossibility of plea negotiations with Rader, focusing instead on a comprehensive trial to ensure justice.

• Rader's Legal Representation:
  Despite multiple attorneys attempting to represent him, Rader remained silent, showing little interest in participating in his defense.

Key Quote:
"We wanted to have that hearing... we were gonna put it all out in open court so any member of the public, any journalist would have access to that information and be able to describe who Dennis Rader really was."
— Charlie Otero [13:14]

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Rader's Guilty Plea and Detailed Confession

On June 27, 2005, Rader made a groundbreaking decision to plead guilty to all charges, bypassing a lengthy trial. During the court hearing, he provided an explicit and emotionless recounting of his murders, astonishing the courtroom with his brutality and lack of empathy.

Key Quotes:

• Rader's Admission:
  "On January 15, 1974, I maliciously, intentionally and premeditation killed Joseph Terrell."
  — Dennis Rader [19:05]

• Methodical Description:
  "I put a plastic bag over his head and then some cords and tightened it after that."
  — Dennis Rader [19:52]

Rader's demeanor was likened to a "ringmaster in the center ring," calmly detailing his heinous acts without exhibiting remorse.

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Victim Impact Statements and Emotional Turmoil

The courtroom proceedings allowed victims' families to express their anguish and confront Rader directly. Their statements were filled with rage, sorrow, and a yearning for justice, contrasting sharply with Rader's detached admissions.

Key Moments:

• Jeff Davis' Statement:
  Jeff, the son of Dolores Davis, delivered a passionate statement condemning Rader as a "depraved predator" and expressing his relentless pursuit of vengeance.

• Charlie Otero's Emotional Testimony:
  Charlie, eldest brother of the Otero family, shared his initial anger and subsequent transformation during the session, highlighting the internal conflict between his desire for revenge and newfound faith following a personal tragedy.

Key Quote:
"I have wondered what it would be like to confront the walking cesspool that took my mother's precious life."
— Steve Relford [32:03]

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Rader's Sentencing and Final Remarks

On August 18th, the sentencing hearing commenced, where prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence, including Rader's own incriminating Polaroid photographs depicting his crimes. The emotional weight of the evidence was palpable, especially for the victims' families, who had previously been unaware of many of Rader's disturbing behaviors.

Key Developments:

• Presentation of Evidence:
  Prosecutors meticulously detailed Rader's modus operandi, showcasing his lack of emotional connection to his crimes and reinforcing the severity of his actions.

• Rader's Final Statement:
  Although initially appearing remorseful, Rader's statements were largely self-pitying, causing further distress among the victims' families.

Key Quote:
"Dennis Raider did not suffer from any mental disease or defect. He was not the victim of any psychological, physical, or sexual abuse. Raider murdered with premeditation and deliberation..."
— Jeff Davis [10:40]

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Conclusion and Aftermath

Dennis Rader was ultimately sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would spend the rest of his life incarcerated. The episode captures the complex emotions experienced by the victims' families, from overwhelming grief to a fleeting sense of triumph in seeing Rader finally held accountable.

Key Takeaways:

• Justice Served:
  The guilty plea and subsequent sentencing brought a sense of closure to the affected families, despite the lingering pain of Rader's detailed confessions.

• Rader's Legacy:
  Rader's ability to maintain a façade of normalcy while committing such atrocities serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind seemingly ordinary lives.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "How could you kill two children?"
  — Larry Hatteberg [04:14]

• "They were just collateral."
  — Dennis Rader [04:14]

• "We wanted to have that hearing... describe who Dennis Rader really was."
  — Charlie Otero [13:14]

• "On January 15, 1974, I maliciously, intentionally and premeditation killed Joseph Terrell."
  — Dennis Rader [19:05]

• "I have wondered what it would be like to confront the walking cesspool that took my mother's precious life."
  — Steve Relford [32:03]

• "Dennis Raider did not suffer from any mental disease or defect..."
  — Jeff Davis [10:40]

---

Final Thoughts

"Monster: BTK – The Trial" offers an unflinching examination of Dennis Rader's criminal journey, his interactions with the legal system, and the profound impact on the victims' families. Through meticulous storytelling and firsthand accounts, the episode sheds light on the complexities of seeking justice for one of America's most notorious serial killers.

For those interested in delving deeper into true crime cases, "Monster: BTK" is available for listening on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you access your podcasts.

Transcript

[Kyle Tequila]

My name is Kyle Tequila, host of the shocking new true crime podcast, Crook County. I got recruited into the mob when I was 17 years old. People are dying. Is he doing this every night? Kenny was a Chicago firefighter who lived a secret double life as a mafia hitman.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I had a wife and I had two children.

[Kyle Tequila]

Nobody knew anything.

[Charlie Otero]

He was a fricking crazy man.

[Kyle Tequila]

He was my father, and I had no idea about any of this. Until now. Crook county is available now. Listen for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your pod tests.

[Nola Foulston]

If you're fascinated by the darker sides of humanity, join us every week on our podcast, Serial Killers, where we go deep into notorious true crime cases. With significant research and careful analysis, we examine the psyche of a killer, their motives and targets, and law enforcement's pursuit to stop their spree. Follow serial killers wherever you get your podcasts and get new episodes every Monday.

[Kyle Tequila]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Susan Peters]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together, we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Carrie Rawson]

Each season, we explore a new theme.

[Kyle Tequila]

From poisoners to art thieves.

[Susan Peters]

We uncover the secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching.

[Kyle Tequila]

And two in at the end of each episode, as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired by each story.

[Susan Peters]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It was big news. I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery.

[Jeff Davis]

Big, big news.

[Kyle Tequila]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Steve Relford]

I, like, saw one thing that happened.

[Kyle Tequila]

An arrest, trial, and conviction soon follow.

[Charlie Otero]

He did not kill her.

[Kyle Tequila]

There's no way is the real killer rightly behind bar or still walking free. Did you kill her? Listen to the real Killer, Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jeff Davis]

You're listening to Monster BTK, a production of iHeart podcasts and Tenderfoot TV. Listener discretion is advised.

[Larry Hatteberg]

One afternoon in 2005, we noticed everything went very qu at the police department. No one would return our calls. No one would even talk to us. And I remember talking to our police reporter, and she said, something's up. And I thought exactly the same thing. And in a few minutes, we heard traffic in Park City, that they had stopped a car in Park City, Kansas, and every detective from the Wichita police department was out there. So obviously we went out there, and sure enough, it was Dennis Raider, AKA btk. And that's when the story exploded in Wichita, the networks flew their powerful anchors and reporters in. Everybody wanted to interview Dennis Raider, including me. And it was kind of a free for all, and it was just crazy. And all of the stories that I like to cover on wonderful people doing wonderful things, that was all put by the wayside. And now it was btk all the time, every day. As he's incarcerated in the Sedgwick county detention center, I, like every other reporter, wrote to him and said, I want to interview you. Please let me interview you. Well, we all wanted an interview, but that wasn't going to happen. But I did write to him, and I gave him my phone number, and I said, if you can call me, this is my home phone. Give me a call now. He's incarcerated. He's not going to come after me. And one Saturday morning, he called me, and the operator said, I have a collect call from the Sedgwick county detention center. Will you accept the charges? And you go, wow, yes, I will. And on the other end, he said, larry, this is Dennis Raider. Okay, here we go. I had my phone already set up to be able to record audio. And the problem was the phone in the jail is terrible. You talk about bad audio. This was bad audio. Pops and buzzes and beeps, and I have no clue how many people were listening on it. I said, well, I appreciate you calling me. I have 30 years of questions. And he said, I have 20 minutes. I said, okay. So I started asking him questions. And one of the questions that I asked him, and I will never forget this, I said, how could you kill two children? And he said, oh, well, they were just collateral. Just collateral. I will never forget that. And he spoke about it as you would speak to the baker as you pick up a dozen donuts at the bakery, without feeling, without excitement. They were just collateral. And I found that stunning. And then a few months later, the trial began in the Sedgwick county district court. Someone killed four members of a family.

[Carrie Rawson]

Hedge vanished from her home suddenly last weekend. Her phone lines had been cut, her door left open.

[Larry Hatteberg]

You see the victims laying there with plastic bags over their heads, strangled. You could tell there was a plan, struggled to scenario.

[Carrie Rawson]

While police have said no more about the contents of the letter, it does.

[Susan Peters]

Contain some sort of threat and implies the killer may strike again.

[Larry Hatteberg]

He's going to play with these victims. He'd get them to the point of.

[Kyle Tequila]

Death and then bring them back.

[Larry Hatteberg]

And then brings them back to the point of death.

[Susan Peters]

For my heart podcasts and Tenderfoot TV I'm Susan Peters, and this is Monster BTK. On February 28, 2005, just three days after he was arrested, Dennis Raider was charged with 10 counts of first degree murder. During his initial interrogation, Raider had revealed that he was responsible for two murders. The police hadn't known he was connected to those of Maureen Hedge and Delores Davis. While awaiting trial, Raider was held in the Sedgwick county detention center. Meanwhile, prosecutors were starting to build their case. It was assigned to Nola Foulston, the Sedgwick county district attorney. And working with her was Kevin O'Connor, who at the time was the deputy district attorney. Their first goal was to keep Raider in jail.

[Charlie Otero]

So there was a process in deciding how to charge it. You charged the 10 murders. I remember judge Waller asking what kind of bond we wanted. And I think I said something to the effect of, I mean, judge, I don't know, 10 gazillion. I don't know if there is a number that you could ask for on bond.

[Susan Peters]

The next question was, what sentence would the prosecutors seek?

[Charlie Otero]

There was a lot of discussion at the time, a lot of thoughts about whether or not he should get the death penalty. Kansas didn't have a death penalty during the years that he was committing these crimes. Kansas has one now, but didn't then. And so you had a lot of confusion about why the death penalty wasn't being sought.

[Susan Peters]

The death penalty had been banned in Kansas up until 1994, when it was officially reinstated. But this was long after Raider's last murder, which took place in 1991. Therefore, prosecutors had no choice but to instead seek life without parole.

[Charlie Otero]

We couldn't seek the death penalty. It wasn't an available punishment at the time he was committing these murders. The sentence was life. But sentencing Kansas, the life sentence meant 15 years.

[Susan Peters]

So for each of Raider's 10 murders, he would receive 15 years in prison if found guilty.

[Charlie Otero]

The last murder of Dolores Davis occurred in 91, where there was a hard 40 is what it was called. And that would mean that you got a life sentence, but you couldn't be paroled until you served 40 years, and you had to have a sentencing hearing on that.

[Susan Peters]

Remember, Raider was 59 years old. So this hard 40 rule effectively meant that if he was successfully convicted, Rader would spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance at parole. It seemed like Dennis Raider had his work cut out for him, but apparently he didn't want any part of it. He didn't find a lawyer or speak much at all after his initial interrogation. Even Though many attorneys had tried to represent him.

[Charlie Otero]

I remember getting a call from the jail saying that a local attorney was trying to get access to Dennis Raider. And I remember running from my office over to the jail because that attorney wasn't entitled to have contact with him. He hadn't requested an attorney at that time, but the jail had let him have access. And after that, he decided he didn't want to talk anymore.

[Susan Peters]

We don't know what happened that made Raider choose to stay quiet after that interaction, but he wouldn't talk again until months later. At one press conference, Nola fston and Kevin o'connor were asked if there would be any talks of a plea deal with Raider.

[Charlie Otero]

I mean, in my opinion, you can't plea negotiate a Dennis Raider btk case.

[Susan Peters]

In the conclusion to the state summary of the evidence, the district attorney's office echoed this sentiment.

[Jeff Davis]

Dennis Raider did not suffer from any mental disease or defect. He was not the victim of any psychological, physical, or sexual abuse. Raider murdered with premeditation and deliberation. He killed methodically and systematically, uninhibited by any moral concerns or considerations. Dennis raider killed because he wanted to kill. The evil depravity of his deeds are beyond human comprehension. The time has come to hold Rader accountable, to punish him for his atrocities. Raider deserves the harshest punishment allowed by law.

[Susan Peters]

Raider's first court appearance was March 1, 2005, just a few days after his arrest. Steve Osborne and Sarah mckinnon were appointed as public defenders. They hired two people from Cambridge, forensic consultants to perform a psychological assessment on Raider to determine his competency to stand trial. Competency evaluations are not comprehensive mental health examinations. They focus only on present mental ability to participate in the various parts of the legal process. It was Dr. Robert Mendoza who performed the examination. Here's an excerpt from confession of a serial killer describing Mendoza's findings as read by a voice actor.

[Larry Hatteberg]

Mendoza noted that there was no history of mental illness or drug abuse and no medical conditions. He examined the journals and drawings that Rader had made and the crime scene photos. He also watched the videotape of Raider's police interrogation and examined medical school and prison records. During the evaluation, Raider was depressed, even tearful. His level of attention had declined, he had lost weight, and he was anxious. He said he had considered suffocating himself in his cell, but despite his circumstances, he wanted to live.

[Susan Peters]

This report also identified narcissistic personality disorder and obsessive compulsive personality disorder. Neither of these diagnoses rose to the level of a major mental illness for Raider, and so they did not affect his competency to stand trial. And thus the prosecuting attorney sought to finalize a trial date. They did not want Raider to get away with a plea deal.

[Charlie Otero]

We wanted to have that hearing. A lot of people criticized the district attorney, thinking that she was a media hound. You know, she just wanted the media attention. I can tell you in being in those meetings with her that the goal was to make all the information a public record. As you all may know, that police reports are not public information, but things that are presented in open court are. So the ideal was, is we're gonna put it all out in open court so any member of the public, any journalist would have access to that information and be able to describe who Dennis Raider really was. Just an evil, sadistic murderer. That's all he was.

[Susan Peters]

They got their wish. Raider's first public hearing was scheduled for June 27, 2005. It takes one guy out there to say, who's that?

[Steve Relford]

Kyle.

[Larry Hatteberg]

Who thinks he can just get on a microphone on a podcast and start publicizing this.

[Kyle Tequila]

From I heart podcasts and tenderfoot TV comes a new true crime podcast, Crook County.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I got recruited into the mob when.

[Kyle Tequila]

I was 17 years old. Meet Kenny, an enforcer for the legendary Chicago outfit.

[Larry Hatteberg]

And that was my mission, to snuff.

[Kyle Tequila]

The life out of this guy. He lived a secret double life as a firefighter paramedic for the Chicago fire department.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I had a wife and I had two children.

[Kyle Tequila]

Nobody knew anything. People are dying. Is he doing this every night? Torn between two worlds. I'm covering up murders that these cops are doing.

[Charlie Otero]

He was a freaking crazy man.

[Kyle Tequila]

We don't know who he is, really. He is. My father and I had no idea about any of this until now. Welcome to crook county. Series premiere February 11th. Listen for free on the iheartradio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nola Foulston]

If you're fascinated by the darker sides of humanity, join us every week on podcast serial killers, where we go deep into notorious true crime cases. With significant research and careful analysis, we examine the psyche of a killer, their motives and targets, and law enforcement's pursuit to stop their spree. Follow serial killers wherever you get your podcasts and get new episodes every Monday.

[Maria Tremarke]

From cake news.

[Steve Relford]

This is a special report BTK journey to justice.

[Susan Peters]

And good morning Susan and Peters, along with Jeff Herndon. Welcome to live team coverage of the BTK case. Each previous hearing built with mystery. This is no different. No one really knows what is going to happen, except for Dennis Rader himself. June 27, 2005 was one of the wildest days of my life. I led the coverage from the Cake studios that morning as my colleagues reported from outside the courthouse. The front steps were flooded with national media. Cameras, tents and microphones everywhere. It was about 8:30am when the families of the victims started to appear.

[Larry Hatteberg]

We have some live pictures now from the courthouse.

[Susan Peters]

These are family members arriving at the courthouse. Victims family members. It looks like Charles Bright is there. I see him. The big question this morning was whether Dennis Raider would change his plea. At a previous hearing, Raider refused to speak at all or enter into any formal plea. So by default, the judge entered him into a plea of not guilty on his behalf. But things had changed since then, and there were rumors that Raider planned to flip his plea. There's really been a last minute decision.

[Maria Tremarke]

That'S being made that they kept all.

[Susan Peters]

Their cards together and they're going to.

[Maria Tremarke]

Evaluate things as late as this morning.

[Susan Peters]

And figure out what's going to happen. And I also get the feeling that.

[Maria Tremarke]

Dennis Raider is very much in charge.

[Larry Hatteberg]

Of that final decision.

[Susan Peters]

I know for a fact that the families wanted Raider to plead guilty. They wanted an end to this nightmare. And a guilty plea would move things much faster than a lengthy trial. Still, all of us were in suspense as to what Raider's choice would eventually be. At about 8:40am the attorneys entered the courtroom. According to many sources, Raider's defense attorneys appeared nervous. These attorneys have been working with Raider since the very.

[Kyle Tequila]

Since the first appearance when they were assigned. There have been some rumors that there is some discord amongst them with or between them and Raider.

[Susan Peters]

Finally, after everyone else was settled, Dennis Raider entered the courtroom. There he is. There's Dennis Raider walking into court.

[Larry Hatteberg]

He does have a bulletproof vest on, it appears. Let's listen into the proceedings. Thank you. Please be seated.

[Dennis Rader]

All right.

[Larry Hatteberg]

At this time comes on before the court case captured in the state of Kansas. Plaintiff vs Dennis L. Raider, defendant.

[Susan Peters]

After going through the standard introductory remarks, Judge Gregory Waller asked Raider the question everyone was waiting for. How would he plead?

[Kyle Tequila]

Your honor, at this time, Mr. Rader would waive his right to a jury trial and enter a plea of guilty to all 10 counts.

[Larry Hatteberg]

Sir, I have been advised it is your desire to enter a plea of guilty in this case. Is that correct?

[Maria Tremarke]

Yes, sir.

[Susan Peters]

At perhaps the last minute, Dennis Raider chose to plead guilty to all 10 counts of murder and thus avoid a trial. Then judge Waller prompted Raider to explain how he murdered his victims. Surprisingly, Raider was more than happy to oblige.

[Larry Hatteberg]

On January 15, 1974, I maliciously, intentionally and premeditation killed Joseph Terrell. Had you planned this beforehand?

[Maria Tremarke]

To some degree, yes.

[Larry Hatteberg]

After gotten the house at lost control of it. But it was, you know, in the.

[Maria Tremarke]

Back of my mind.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I had some ideas what I was going to do.

[Susan Peters]

Raider spared none of the graphic details, shedding not an ounce of remorse or betraying any emotion.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I put a plastic bag over his head and then some cords and tightened it after that. I did miss this Otero. I had never strangled anyone before. So I really don't know how much pressure you had to put on a person or how long it would take.

[Susan Peters]

This went on for 45 minutes straight. Raider going through each murder, not only admitting to them, but excitedly explaining his every move. My colleague Larry Hatteberg was stunned.

[Larry Hatteberg]

A judge asked Dennis Raider to take him through all the killings in the courtroom live on tv. That was absolutely amazing. And here was Dennis Raider. And he was like the ringmaster in the center ring. And the spotlight was on him. And he was having the time of his life, recounting in detail how he killed 10 people. It was extraordinary, unbelievable really, because he told it in the same method that he had talked to me on the phone. Without feeling, without remorse, Just very matter of fact. Well, I tied her up this way. And then I strangled her here. Thought about cutting her throat. And it's just like somebody talking about. About picking up their laundry.

[Susan Peters]

Many of the family members present simply couldn't stand to listen to this, including Steve Relford, surviving son of Shirley Vianne.

[Dennis Rader]

I got up and walked out. Everybody fucking followed me. I didn't hear. I didn't want to hear what somebody had to say.

[Susan Peters]

All the other victims families walked out with you?

[Dennis Rader]

Yep.

[Susan Peters]

But you were the first one to get up.

[Dennis Rader]

Damn straight. He said, can they do that?

[Larry Hatteberg]

Good.

[Dennis Rader]

They do what the fuck they want to do.

[Susan Peters]

Why didn't you want to stay in court?

[Dennis Rader]

I didn't want to hear what he fucking had to say.

[Susan Peters]

What did you want to do?

[Dennis Rader]

It's not allowed on here.

[Susan Peters]

Not allowed, huh? So you. You didn't want to give him the satisfaction of. Is that why you walked out? And everyone else walked out too, do you think?

[Dennis Rader]

Pretty much.

[Susan Peters]

What do you think he was doing that day?

[Dennis Rader]

Self pity.

[Susan Peters]

I mean, he went on and on about each murder. What do you. What do you think he was doing that day?

[Dennis Rader]

Well, I forget what they call it, but glorifying what he's done. And the only fucking remorse he had was for himself. I wouldn't hear that shit. I don't hear none of it.

[Susan Peters]

When Raider was done, Judge Waller formally declared the conviction.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I will accept these pleas of guilty and adjudge you Dennis L. Raider, guilty of murder in the first degree in count one, a class A felony.

[Susan Peters]

It was a moment of mixed emotions. On one hand, it was a triumphant relief. Dennis Raider had been found guilty on all charges. On the other hand, it was a moment of quiet sadness. The way Raider described his murders in grave detail left everyone shaken. People shuffled out of the courtroom silently. It was a bittersweet day, even though just justice had prevailed. Following his guilty plea and verdict, Raider was sent back to the Sedgwick County Detention center to await his sentencing. The date of the sentencing hearing was set for August 18th. Meanwhile, Larry Haddeberg was determined to interview him again. You heard about his phone interview with Rader at the top of the episode. But this time Larry wanted to see him in person.

[Larry Hatteberg]

And so I asked before he was sent to prison, I said, I'd like to talk to you in person. Is that possible? And I got permission to talk to him in person. Didn't have much time, about 15 minutes with him. And I went up with one of the other anchors from K tv. I was nervous about shaking his hand because when you go up there and talk to him, you have to do a prison handshake. He's on one side of the Plexiglas, I'm on the other. He puts his hand up here like this. Then I put my hand up here like this. And we basically, that's a prison handshake. My son in law, guy who married my daughter, is federal agent here in Witchita. And I was talking to him about this and I said, I don't want to do it. I just simply don't want to do it. And he looked at me and he said, well, how bad do you want the information? If you don't shake his hand, he's going to take that as an insult and he's going to shut up and not say anything. So I reluctantly did it, and I still regret it to this day. But we had a conversation, you know, and he told me he was looking forward to prison. I said, why are you looking forward to prison? And he said, well, I'm going to learn things. You know, how to burn a building down, you know, how to do this, how to do that, how to commit a crime. He was really looking forward to it. He was unbelievable in that he had no soul. He just, he didn't care about other people, particularly women.

[Susan Peters]

My impression was that after the June 27 hearing, Raider was feeling pretty good about himself. The way he talked about his murders in such a detailed and nonchalant manner tells me that he was ready to tell his story on his terms. Here he was on national TV with the world watching, and he got to read what was essentially his manifesto out loud for everyone to hear. His attitude leaving the courtroom that day appeared to be one of success. But what Raider wasn't prepared for is that he would soon get his due. At the Aug. 18 sentencing hearing, the family members of his victims would finally get their chance to speak up and address Raider directly. It takes one guy out there to say, who's that?

[Steve Relford]

Kyle?

[Larry Hatteberg]

Who thinks he can just get on a microphone on a podcast and start publicizing this.

[Kyle Tequila]

From iHeart podcasts and Tenderfoot TV comes a new true crime podcast, Crook County.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I got recruited into the mob when.

[Kyle Tequila]

I was 17 years old. Meet Kenny, an enforcer for the legendary Chicago outfit.

[Larry Hatteberg]

And that was my mission, to snuff.

[Kyle Tequila]

The life out of this guy. He lived a secret double life as a firefighter paramedic for the Chicago fire Department.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I had a wife and I had two children. Nobody knew anything.

[Kyle Tequila]

People are dying. Is he doing this every night? Torn between two worlds? I'm covering up murders that these cops are doing.

[Charlie Otero]

He was a freaking crazy man.

[Kyle Tequila]

We don't know who he is, really. He is. My father and I had no idea about any of this until now. Welcome to Crook County. Series premiere February 11th. Listen for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nola Foulston]

If you're fascinated by the darker sides of humanity, join us every week on our podcast, Serial Killers, where we go deep into notorious true crime cases. With significant research and careful analysis, we examine the psyche of a killer, their motives and targets, and law enforcement's pursuit to stop their spree. Follow serial killers wherever you get your podcasts and get new episodes every Monday.

[Susan Peters]

On August 18, Raider's sentencing hearing began. The family members of the victims would each have a chance to speak. But first, investigators were given the floor to tell their side of the story and present all the evidence they had uncovered.

[Carrie Rawson]

The police, they wanted everything my dad had done on record. They wanted it in public record because most of the details were not known at that point. Still, like all the case materials, weapons, times, dates, a lot of that was not public.

[Susan Peters]

This is Dennis Raider's daughter, Carrie Rawson.

[Carrie Rawson]

They wanted it all in the record, so they went through all of that. They brought in, like the knife he used for Katherine, brought In all of this stuff, just to put it under the record. They brought in the Polaroids, if you remember.

[Susan Peters]

Dennis Raider at some point took Polaroid pictures of himself where he would dress up in women's clothing and reenact his murders. The police had confiscated all of these when they searched the Raider household.

[Carrie Rawson]

Now, were they trying to humiliate my dad on the stand? I don't know. My dad was not expecting that. And he was pretty lividly pissed.

[Susan Peters]

How'd he react?

[Carrie Rawson]

Just angry. You can see him trying to be under control in the videos of him. Just trying to maintain composure of these guys mocking him in court.

[Steve Relford]

But he's exposed now.

[Carrie Rawson]

He's exposed and known for what he is.

[Susan Peters]

Carrie says that her father was visibly shaken by this barrage of evidence from the prosecutors.

[Carrie Rawson]

He was not expecting that. And he's completely thrown. And you see him trying to maintain control and he's trying to hold those outer protective layers. And he's just sort of disintegrating Mike, as would be inside. You see his voice change. He clicks his mouth like he's acting like he's like bored. He's just trying to keep control. And you can see it. He's almost tearing up. He's so upset. He's almost tearing up. And then he's also like really mad.

[Susan Peters]

Of course, this was also the Raider family's first time hearing about Dennis evil deeds.

[Carrie Rawson]

My family did not know about the bondage. We didn't know about my dad in the women's lingerie. We didn't know like my dad dressed up in victim's clothing and took Polaroids in his parents basement. Basically he was recreating Josefino Taro's murderer. I didn't know any of that. So I'm finding this out with the rest of the world. And I was mad. I was mad at the police for not trusting us enough to tell us or prepare us. I think they were trying to protect us. But obviously, no, it's just all at once.

[Susan Peters]

Finally the family members of the victims had a chance to speak. And Dennis Raider had no choice but to listen.

[Steve Relford]

Now it was my turn. He had the spotlight for a long time. Now it was going to be my turn. I was going to call him everything that I could possibly get away with calling him on network tv.

[Susan Peters]

This is Jeff Davis, son of Dolores Davis. He gave one of the longest and most comprehensive victim impact statements.

[Steve Relford]

I did a pretty good job of it. I was pretty creative, the stuff that I came up with. And I did it because I knew he was watching and every interview was focused directly at him. When I looked at the person I was interviewing, I wasn't looking at them, I was looking at him. And I wanted him to know that it was my turn. And now it's get even time. And now I'm the one pointing barbs in your direction and tell me how much you like a smart boy. And I knew that I was getting under his skin. And I loved every minute of it. For the last 5,326 days, I have wondered what it would be like to confront the walking cesspool that took my mother's precious life. Throughout that time, I always envisioned this day as being one for avenging the past. I could think of nothing but savoring the bittersweet taste of revenge as justice is served upon this social sewage here before us today. Now that it has arrived, surprisingly, I realize that this day is not just about avenging crass past crimes. Sitting here before us is a depraved predator, a rabid animal that has murdered people, poisoned countless lives, and terrorized this community for 30 years, all the while relishing every minute of it. As such, there can be no justice harsh enough or revenge bitter enough in this world at least to cause the pain and suffering which a social malignancy like this has coming. He wouldn't look at me. It was a 4 minute, 30 second tirade. He would not look at me. One time, he didn't have the guts to look at me.

[Maria Tremarke]

All I could think about was revenge. Revenge get my hands on him.

[Susan Peters]

This is Charlie Otero, eldest brother of the surviving Otero family members. He says that this hearing was the first time he heard certain details about the murder of his parents.

[Maria Tremarke]

I had no inside information or anything about how my family had died. I didn't know any of that stuff that he said. When he said that my mom's last words were, may God forgive you. I knew that that's something my mom would probably have said because that's how she was. And it just broke my heart again. That feeling I had on my chest being tore open in my heart, it just all came back to me. I knew that if I acted up, then I would never get a chance at him. So I had to maintain, to wait for my chance. That and the world sitting there, my brother and my sister. And once again, the big brother macho thing comes in. I got to be strong in front of them.

[Susan Peters]

Then, like Jeff, Charlie gave his own victim impact statement.

[Maria Tremarke]

That's what I had to be good for. I had to get my Impact statement. And I couldn't screw. I wanted to make that statement. But I also planned this was going to be my chance to get my hands on him. So I was prepared to go all the way with my revenge plans. What happened was we left for lunch break, and I had a couple beers. Right away, I'm getting my strength up, my courage up. And then I planned to get my hands on him. And as we were walking to the metal detector, I got stopped by my filmmaker. We made a documentary, and the filmmaker was there filming. And he said, charlie, you have a phone call. It was the mother of my son, who I had never seen before. He was named Joseph. He's the same name as my brother and my dad. It was Lynette. Lynette says, charlie, there's been an accident. Joseph's been hit by a car. He's. And the phone went dead. And I'm like, he's what? He's what? He's dead? He's alive. He's okay. I call Lynette again. I call her back, and she says, charlie, Joseph's been hit by a car. He's in a coma. And I'm like, what is it, an induced coma? They said, no, it's. He's in a coma, and he's got brain injuries. He's got shaken baby syndrome from being hit by the car. I started thinking about this. I'm thinking, how can I ask God to save my son? If I am going to go do a dastardly deed, why would he save my son? So it's hard to describe it, but in that instant, I got my religion back. I got my faith back. Because all desire for that revenge went away instantly, Truly went away. And all I could think about was saving my son. I said, God, save my son. I'll give you my life. I'll do anything you want. You can take me right now. Just save my son. So when we went back in there, the opportunity came. They took him out one door, and the family's out another door, and they screwed up. And there was nobody between me and him. There might have been people next to him and stuff, but he was. I looked right at him. With nobody between me and him. All desire that I had to get my hands on him was gone, because I knew the prison would take care of it, because that's what they do to child molesters and child killers and stuff. I walked out the door, I went outside, and some people started sticking microphones in my face. And somebody said, charlie, you know, the world's praying for You. And I said, no, no, no, don't pray for me. Pray for my son. He's been hit by a car and he needs prayer right now. He's in a coma. Lo and behold, months later, weeks, weeks and weeks later, he wakes up a newborn child. I believe the Lord gave me back my son.

[Susan Peters]

Steve Relford was also given the chance to give a statement.

[Dennis Rader]

And when I got up to speak, I was so close. I about piled over everybody. I couldn't talk. All I seen was fucking anger. At that point, I really didn't give a fuck what anybody thought. I knew what I thought. I knew I couldn't do it.

[Susan Peters]

Steve was simply too upset to say much of anything. For him, the difficulty of that day was nearly impossible to bear. But he wasn't alone. He was comforted by the fact that others like Jeff Davis and Charlie Otero shared in his anger.

[Steve Relford]

My emotions was pure, unadulterated rage now, as I knew they would. They had six of the biggest sheriff's officers I've ever seen in my life. They had three on each side of him, shoulder to shoulder. Because it wasn't just me who wanted him. Charlie O'Terrell wanted him. Steve Relford wanted him. There was a bunch of us that wanted a piece of him. And we knew we couldn't do it, obviously, but I know I was so filled with rage. But I was sitting there and you know how when you stare at somebody just right, they can feel you're staring at them. He knew. He knew that I was burning a hole in the back of his head. But he wouldn't turn around. Look at him, me, because he doesn't have a gust. One of the sheriff's officers came over to me and he told me, he said, you need to sit back and relax. And he said, you look like you're getting ready to jump over that rail and go after him. He said, if the judge tosses you out of here, you won't get back in. So I was physically almost like I was ready to spring. I knew I couldn't do it, but I was just that tense that I used to. Was grabbing onto the rails and just. I was probably white and knuckles, I imagine. So I had to calm myself down, sit back down before I got myself in trouble.

[Susan Peters]

This shared hatred of Dennis Raider had the effect of bonding these men that day. They sat together in unison as they delivered their barbs to a cold faced Dennis Raider. He said nothing and never looked them in the eyes. But they knew that their words had cut him. After they were finished raider was given 30 minutes to respond. Here is an excerpt of what he said as read by a voice actor.

[Jeff Davis]

The dark side was there, but now I think the light is beginning to shine. And I appreciate the family and friends and who I can be thankful for. And I think that will keep me from finally going to the dark side or hell. And finally a final apologize to the victims families. There's no way that I can ever repay you.

[Susan Peters]

Raider actually appeared to tear up during his final speech. The victim's families were convinced that Raider's tears were for himself. Jeff Davis and the other families had no desire to listen to his self pity. So they decided once again to walk out.

[Steve Relford]

And I was the instigator. I'm the one that. His idea was that when he stood up to talk, I'm the one that said, let's get out of here, let's walk out. And the minute he got up, before he could open his mouth, about eight of us got up and just walked out of the courtroom. And everybody said the look on his face was priceless because he's like, wait, I haven't had my stay yet and you're leaving? Because I told all those people, I said there isn't anything he could say that I want here. Everything out of his mouth's a lie. So we just got up and walked out. It was great. It was the best dealing in the world.

[Susan Peters]

Sedgwick County District attorney Nola Foulston had this to say about Raider's words. It's pitiful for Mr. Raider to stand here looking all pale and pasty and say how sorry he is. Well, that's usually the culmination of what happens when defendants go to their last chance in order to convince a judge. You know, gosh, I'm really sorry. Well, what else do you say after you kill 10 people? He doesn't have the ability to be arrogant. Today, after nearly three days of testimony, it was finally time. The judge called the court to order. He picked up a piece of paper and slowly, confidently, he read out loud Dennis Raider's sentence to the courtroom and to the world.

[Larry Hatteberg]

World.

[Susan Peters]

Next time on Monster btk.

[Carrie Rawson]

I wanted to help him. Like, I'm mad at you in one second. Like, I'm worried you're cold and like, I love you, I still love you.

[Kyle Tequila]

We write some letters. He wanted me to solve some codes.

[Larry Hatteberg]

The reason I stay kind of involved in it is that we still do not know what caused BTK to become a murderer. I really wanted to go seek Dennis in prison to see who he is.

[Maria Tremarke]

The intensity of the anguish and the grief is still there, raider said. You know, I have a fantasy that.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I wish I could have lived out. I've always wanted to kidnap a female from The Laundromat.

[Jeff Davis]

Monster. BTK is a production of Tenderfoot TV and iHeart podcasts. The show is written by Gnomes Griffin, Trevor Young and Jesse Funk. Our host is Susan Peters. Executive producers on behalf of Tenderfoot TV include Donald Albright and Payne Lindsay alongside supervising producer Tracy Kaplan. Executive producers on behalf of iHeart podcasts include Matt Frederick and Trevor Young, alongside producers Nomes Griffin and Jesse Funk and supervising producer Rima Il Keali. Marketing support by David Wasserman and Alison Wright at iHeart Podcasts and Caroline Orajema at Tenderfoot TV. Additional research by Claudia Dafrico original artwork by Kevin Mr. Soul Harp original music by Makeup and Vanity Set. Special thanks to Oren Rosenbaum and the team at UTA and the Nord Group. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio and Tenderfoot TV, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Thanks for listening.

[Kyle Tequila]

My name is Kyle Tequila, host of the shocking new true crime podcast Crook County. I got recruited into the mob when I was 17 years old. People are dying. Is he doing this every night? Kenny was a Chicago firefighter who lived a secret double life as a Mafia hitman.

[Larry Hatteberg]

I had a wife and I had two children.

[Kyle Tequila]

Nobody knew anything.

[Charlie Otero]

He was a fricking crazy man.

[Kyle Tequila]

He was my father and I had no idea about any of this until now. Crook county is available now. Listen for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nola Foulston]

If you're fascinated by the darker sides of humanity, join us every week on our podcast Serial Killers, where we go deep into notorious true crime cases. With significant research and careful analysis, we examine the psyche of a killer, their motives and targets, and law enforcement's pursuit to stop their spree. Follow serial killers wherever you get your podcasts and get new episodes every Monday.

[Kyle Tequila]

Welcome to the Criminalia Podcast. I'm Maria Tremarke.

[Susan Peters]

And I'm Holly Fry. Together we invite you into the dark and winding corridors of historical true crime.

[Carrie Rawson]

Each season we explore a new theme.

[Kyle Tequila]

From poisoners to art thieves, we uncover.

[Susan Peters]

The secrets of history's most interesting figures, from legal injustices to body snatching, and tune in at the end of each.

[Kyle Tequila]

Episode as we indulge in cocktails and mocktails inspired by each story.

[Susan Peters]

Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Steve Relford]

It was big news.

[Susan Peters]

I mean, white girl gets murdered, found in a cemetery.

[Jeff Davis]

Big, big news.

[Kyle Tequila]

A long investigation stalls until someone changes their story.

[Steve Relford]

I like saw whole thing that happened.

[Kyle Tequila]

An arrest, trial and conviction soon follow.

[Charlie Otero]

He did not kill her.

[Kyle Tequila]

There's no way is the Real Killer rightly behind bars or still walking free. Did you you kill her? Listen to the real Killer Season 3 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.